Memory addressing methods and associated controller, memory device and host

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for accessing a secure digital (SD) card, which includes a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from a host, at least one ground pin, a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from a host, a command pin for receiving a command from a host, and four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The method includes receiving, via the command pin, an address extension command including a first address from a host, receiving, via the command pin, an access command including a second address from a host, and accessing, via the data pins, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address, which is a combination of the first address and the second address. The access command indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for a memory device and arelated controller, memory device and host, and more particularly, to amemory addressing method for a memory device and a related controller,memory device and host.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Along with the widespread use of digital communication devices orelectronic devices for processing video data and/or music data, and theuniversalization of IA (Internet Appliance) products, various types ofstorage devices for storing digital data have been developed. Memorycards have become the mainstream product in the market because of theadvantages of compact volume and low power consumption. The memory cardsare quite suitable for use in various types of hosts/devices/systems,such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, MP3 players, mobilephones, personal digital assistants (PDA) or global positioning system(GPS) devices.

Secure digital (SD) cards are popular memory cards in the market.However, since the address parameter or argument in a command for an SDcard has only 32 bits, currently the maximum storage capacity an SD cardcan support is 2 terabytes (TB), which has become insufficient for thecapacity requirements in various applications. It is desirable to haveSD cards which can support a greater capacity, and there is also a needto provide addressing or accessing methods for such SD cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, one objective of the present invention is to provide anaddressing method capable of accessing an SD card which supports acapacity greater than 2 TB, and provide related SD cards, controllers ofthe SD cards and hosts.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for accessinga secure digital (SD) card, which includes a voltage supply pin forreceiving voltage supply from a host, at least one ground pin, a clockpin for receiving a clock signal from a host, a command pin forreceiving a command from a host, and four data pins for writing datainto the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The method includesreceiving, via the command pin, an address extension command including afirst address from a host, receiving, via the command pin, an accesscommand including a second address from a host, and accessing, via thedata pins, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by athird address, which is a combination of the first address and thesecond address. The access command indicates an access operation to beperformed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, asingle write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple writeoperation and an erase operation.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a controller of anSD card, which is configured to perform the above method.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a method foraccessing an SD card, which includes a voltage supply pin for receivingvoltage supply from the host; at least one ground pin; a clock pin forreceiving a clock signal from the host; a command pin for receiving acommand from the host; and four data pins for writing data into the SDcard or reading data from the SD card. The method includes transmitting,via the command pin, an address extension command including a firstaddress to the SD card; transmitting, via the command pin, an accesscommand including a second address to the SD card; and accessing, viathe data pins, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by athird address, which is a combination of the first address and thesecond address. The access command indicates an access operation to beperformed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, asingle write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple writeoperation and an erase operation.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an SD cardincluding a memory module, an input/output (I/O) interface, and acontroller. The memory module includes a plurality of memory locations.The I/O interface includes a voltage supply pin for receiving voltagesupply from the host, at least one ground pin, a clock pin for receivinga clock signal from the host, a command pin for receiving a command fromthe host, and four data pins for writing data into the SD card orreading data from the SD card. The controller is configured to: receive,via the command pin, an address extension command including a firstaddress from the I/O interface; receive, via the command pin, an accesscommand including a second address from the I/O interface; and access atleast one of the plurality of memory locations indicated by a thirdaddress which is a combination of the first address and the secondaddress. The access command indicates an access operation to beperformed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, asingle write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple writeoperation and an erase operation.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronicdevice capable of accessing an SD card. The SD card includes an I/Ointerface and a processor. The I/O interface includes a voltage supplycontact for providing voltage supply to the SD card, at least one groundcontact, a clock contact for providing a clock signal to the SD card, acommand contact for providing a command to the SD card, and four datacontacts for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SDcard. The processor is configured to: transmit, via the command contact,an address extension command including a first address to the SD card;transmit, via the command contact, an access command including a secondaddress to the SD card; and access, via the data contacts, at least amemory location of the SD card indicated by a third address which is acombination of the first address and the second address. The accesscommand indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD cardselected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, amultiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an eraseoperation.

The objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious tothose of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in thevarious figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a command for an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates memory command sequences in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates memory command sequences in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates memory command sequences in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4B illustrates memory command sequences in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of an SD card in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a table of descriptions of the pins of an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the combination of an SD card and ahost in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of a host for accessing an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method of a host for accessing an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of a host for accessing an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method performed by an SD card or acontroller of the SD card for accessing an SD card in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method performed by an SD card or acontroller of the SD card for accessing an SD card in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a state diagram showing the changes in the state of an SDcard when the SD card is being accessed in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a command for an SD card inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Communication between an SD card and a host is based on commands anddata streams. A command may be considered as a request to perform aspecific operation. A command is transmitted from the host to the SDcard through a command (CMD) pin of the SD card. As shown in FIG. 1, thetotal length of a command is 48 bits. A command is initiated or precededby a start bit (“0”) and terminated or succeeded by a stop bit or an endbit (“1”). The transmitter bit being “1” denotes that the command istransmitted from the host to the SD card. A response from the SD card tothe host is also transmitted via the command pin. In this case, thetransmitter bit is set to be “0.” The index includes 6 bits andindicates the type of the command, which determines the operation thatis to be performed on the SD card. The definition of the variouscommands of the SD card is detailed in Section 4.7.3 of “Part 1 PhysicalLayer Specification” published by the SD Card Association. The addressargument (or address parameter) includes 32 bits and indicates theaddress information of the command. The cyclic redundancy check (CRC)code includes 7 bits and is used to detect transmission error andprotect the contents in the index and the address of the command.

Examples of different types of commands are described below.

A CMD17 command indicates a command which performs a single read (orsingle block read) operation on a memory location in the SD cardindicated by the 32-bit address in the command. Since the binary code ofdecimal number 17 is “10001,” the index of CMD17 command is “10001.” ACMD24 command indicates a command which has the index “11000” andperforms a single write (or single block write) operation on a memorylocation in the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address in the command.Since the binary code of decimal number 24 is “11000,” the index ofCMD24 command is “11000.”

A CMD18 command indicates a command which has the index “10010” andperforms a multiple read (or multiple block read) operation from amemory location in the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address in thecommand. A combination of a CMD23 command and a CMD18 command (e.g., aCMD23 command followed by a CMD18 command) indicates a multiple readoperation from a memory location in the SD card indicated by the 32-bitaddress in the CMD18 command, wherein the CMD23 has information of dataread length.

A CMD25 command indicates a command which has the index “11001” andperforms a multiple write (or multiple block read) operation from amemory location in the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address in thecommand A combination of a CMD23 command and a CMD25 command (e.g., aCMD23 command followed by a CMD25 command) indicates a multiple writeoperation from a memory location in the SD card indicated by the 32-bitaddress in the CMD25 command, wherein the CMD23 has information of datawrite length.

A CMD38 command indicates a command which has the index “100110” andperforms an erase operation on the SD card. For example, a combinationof a CMD32 command and a CMD38 command (e.g., a CMD32 command followedby a CMD38 command) indicates an erase operation from a memory locationin the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address in the CMD32 command. Acombination of a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38 command(e.g., a CMD32 command followed by a CMD33 command followed by a CMD38command) indicates an erase operation from a memory location in the SDcard indicated by the 32-bit address in the CMD32 command till a memorylocation in the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address in the CMD33command.

A CMD44 command indicates a command which has the index “101100” andperforms a data transfer operation on the SD card. For example, acombination of a CMD44 command and a CMD45 command (e.g., a CMD44command followed by a CMD45 command) indicates a data transfer operationstarted from a memory location in the SD card indicated by the 32-bitaddress in the CMD45 command.

Conventionally, since the address information of an operation to beperformed is indicated by the 32-bit address in one commandcorresponding to the operation, the addressing or accessing ability ofone command is limited to 2 TB (2³² (32-bit address)*2⁹ (512 Bblock)=2⁴¹ Bytes=2 TB), which also limits the maximum capacity an SDcard can support to 2 TB.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a memory addressing methodwhich can support a capacity greater than 2 TB is provided. An addressextension command is utilized to extend the 32-bit address in an accesscommand to be more than 32 bits, which thus can provide a capacitygreater than 2 TB. The access command may include the command CMD17,CMD18, CMD24, CMD25, CMD32, CMD33 or CMD44 described above, whichcarries address information for a corresponding operation to beperformed. In some embodiments, the access command may be a combinationof the command CMD17, CMD18, CMD24, CMD25, CMD32, CMD33 or CMD44described above. The address extension command may be a command selectedfrom the reserved command pool in conventional SD card application,i.e., the address extension command may be CMD22, CMD31, CMD39, CMD41 orCMD51. In some embodiments, the address extension command may be acombination of commands selected from the reserved command pool, forexample, the address extension command may include two CMD22 commands.

In particular, an address extension command may have an index “010110”(CMD22) and carries an address in its 32-bit address argument, whereinthe address may account for 6 bits (e.g., lower 6 bits of the 32-bitaddress argument), 32 bits or any other number of bits of the 32-bitaddress argument. The address in the address extension command iscombined with the address in an access command that follows the addressextension command to form a combined address that includes more than 32bits and can be used to access a memory capacity greater than 2 TB. Ifthe address in the address extension command has 6 bits, the combinedaddress has 38 bits and enables access to 128 TB (2⁶*2 TB=128 TB) memoryspace. If the address in the address extension command has 32 bits, thecombined address has 64 bits and enables access to 2³²*2 TB memoryspace. According to a preferred embodiment, the address in the addressextension command may be an upper address of the combined address, andthe address in the access command may be a lower address of the combinedaddress. In another embodiment, the address in the address extensioncommand may be a lower address of the combined address, and the addressin the access command may be an upper address of the combined address.

In a preferred embodiment, the combined address is generated byconnecting the address included in the address extension command andthat included the access command in serial. For example, if the addressincluded in the address extension command is [X31:X0] and the addressincluded the access command is [Y31:Y0], the combined address is[X31:X0, Y31:Y0] (or [Y31:Y0, X31, X0] in some embodiments). FIG. 2illustrates examples of memory read command sequences in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention. The address extension commandCMD22 precedes the single read command CMD17 or the multiple readcommand CMD18. The address extension command CMD22 carries an address(in its 32-bit address argument) to be combined with an address in thesingle read command CMD17 or the multiple read command CMD18 to form acombined address that includes more than 32 bits and indicates a memorylocation where the single read operation or the multiple read operationis performed.

Regarding the multiple read operation, a CMD23 command may be used toset the data read length of the operation. Optionally, a CMD12 commandmay be used to stop the multiple read operation without setting the dataread length of the multiple read operation by a CMD23 command.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of memory write command sequences inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The addressextension command CMD22 precedes the single write command CMD24 or themultiple write command CMD25. The address extension command CMD22carries an address (in its 32-bit address argument) to be combined withan address in the single write command CMD24 or the multiple writecommand CMD25 to form a combined address that includes more than 32 bitsand indicates a memory location where the single write operation or themultiple write operation is performed.

Regarding the multiple write operation, a CMD23 command may be used toset the data write length of the operation. Optionally, a CMD12 commandmay be used to stop the multiple write operation without setting thedata write length of the multiple write operation by a CMD23 command.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of memory erase command sequence inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. One addressextension command CMD22 precedes the CMD32 command and carries anaddress (in its 32-bit address argument) to be combined with an addressin the CMD32 command to form a combined address that includes more than32 bits and indicates a memory location where the erase operation isstarted. Another address extension command CMD22 precedes the CMD33command and carries an address (in its 32-bit address argument) to becombined with an address in the CMD33 command to form another combinedaddress that includes more than 32 bits and indicates a memory locationwhere the erase operation is ended. The CMD38 command initiates theerase operation.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of memory data transfer command sequencein accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The CMD44command indicates a data transfer operation on the SD card. The addressextension command CMD22 precedes the CMD45 command and carries anaddress (in its 32-bit address argument) to be combined with an addressin the CMD45 command, so as to form a combined address that includesmore than 32 bits and indicates a memory location where the datatransfer is started.

FIG. 5A is a top view of an SD card A. As shown in FIG. 5A, the SD cardA includes 9 pins, which are labeled A1 to A9.

FIG. 5B is a table of descriptions or definitions of pins A1 to A9 ofthe SD card A shown in FIG. 5A. As shown in the table, pins A1 and A7 toA9 are data pins for writing data into the SD card A or reading datafrom the SD card A. Pin A2 is referred to as a command pin, which mayreceive a command transmitted from a host to the SD card A and maytransmit a response in response to the command from SD card A to thehost. Pin A4 is referred to as a VDD pin and operates as a voltagesupply pin for SD card A. Pin A4 may be configured to receive a voltagewithin a range from 2.7 to 3.6 volts (V). Pin A5 is referred to as aclock (CLK) pin and is configured to receive a clock signal. Pins A3and/or A6 are ground pins.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a combination of the SD card A and ahost H in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. TheSD card A includes a flash memory module 120 and a flash memorycontroller (or controller) 110, wherein the flash memory controller 110is arranged to access the flash memory module 120. The flash memorycontroller 110 may be configured to receive commands (e.g., addressextension commands or access commands) from the host H and to accessmemory locations in the flash memory module 120 according to addressesin the commands. The flash memory controller 110 comprises amicroprocessor 112, a read-only memory (ROM) 112M, a control logic 114,a buffer memory 116, and an interface logic 118. The ROM 112M isarranged to store a program code 112C, and the microprocessor 112 isarranged to execute the program code 112C in order to control the accessto the flash memory module 120. The control logic 114 comprises anencoder 142 and a decoder 144.

In some embodiments, the flash memory module 120 comprises multipleflash memory chips, each comprising multiple blocks, and the flashmemory controller 110 takes a “block” as the erase unit of performingoperations on the flash memory module 120. The flash memory controller110 may execute the program code 112C via the microprocessor 112. Insome embodiments, a block may include a specific number of pages,wherein the flash memory controller 110 takes a “page” as the unit ofwriting data to the flash memory module 120. In some embodiments, theflash memory module 120 may include a 3D NAND-type flash memory.

In practice, the flash memory controller 110 which executes the programcode 112C via the microprocessor 112 may use the inner elements thereofto perform various control operations, such as using the control logic114 to control the access operations of the flash memory module 120(especially the access operation on at least one block or at least onepage), using the buffer memory 116 to perform the required bufferingprocess, and using the interface logic 118 to communicate with the hostH via the data pins of the SD card A. The buffer memory 116 may, forexample, be a static random access memory (Static RAM (SRAM)), but thepresent invention is not limited thereto.

The host H may include a processor 132 and an input/output (I/O)interface 134 coupled to the SD card A. The I/O interface 134 mayinclude contacts corresponding respectively to the pins of the SD card A(i.e., the I/O interface may include nine contacts). The I/O interface134 may include a voltage supply contact for providing voltage supply,one or more ground contacts, a clock contact for providing a clocksignal, and a command contact, for electrically connecting to thecommand pin of the SD card A, for providing a command to the SD card A.The definition of each contact of the host H may refer to the tableshown in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method 700 performed by a host (or aprocessor of the host) for accessing an SD card in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 702: The host determines an access operation to be performed on theSD card. The access operation may be selected from: a single readoperation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, amultiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 704: The host determines a memory location of the SD card subjectto the access operation, wherein the memory location can be indicated bya 64-bit address.

Step 706: The host separates the 64-bit address into a 32-bit upperaddress and a 32-bit lower address.

Step 708: The host transmits an address extension command including theupper address (in the address argument) to the SD card via a command pinof the SD card from an I/O interface of the host.

Step 710: The host transmits an access command including the loweraddress (in the address argument) and information indicating the accessoperation (in the index) to the SD card via the command pin of the SDcard.

Step 712: The host accesses the memory location of the SD card indicatedby a combined address, which is a combination of the upper address andthe lower address, via data pins of the SD card.

In the embodiment described above, the upper address and the loweraddress are both 32 bits. In some other embodiments, the addressindicating the memory location determined in Step 704 may be 38 bits,and the upper address may be 6 bits and the lower address is 32 bits.According to the present disclosure, the number of bits of the upperaddress may be any number not greater than 32 and thus is not limited tothe above embodiments. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the addressextension command may include the lower address and the access commandmay include the upper address.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD17 command, the step ofaccessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 712) includesperforming the single read operation on the memory location indicated bythe combined address, which is generated according to the upper addressincluded in the CMD22 command and the lower address included in theCMD17 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD24 command, the step ofaccessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 712) includesperforming the single write operation on the memory location indicatedby the combined address, which is generated according to the upperaddress included in the CMD22 command and the lower address included inthe CMD24 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and a CMD18command (as shown in FIG. 2), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 712) includes performing the multiple readoperation from the memory location indicated by the combined address,which is generated according to the upper address included in the CMD22command and the lower address included in the CMD18 command. The CMD23command is used to set the data read length of the multiple readoperation.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and a CMD25command (as shown in FIG. 3), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 712) includes performing the multiple writeoperation from the memory location indicated by the combined address,which is generated according to the upper address included in the CMD22command and the lower address included in the CMD25 command. The CMD23command is used to set the data write length of the multiple writeoperation.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and a CMD38 command,the step of accessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 712)includes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the combined address in response to the CMD38 command. Thecombined address is generated according to the upper address included inthe CMD22 command and the lower address included in the CMD32 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a firstCMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and the access commandcomprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38 command (as shownin FIG. 4A), the step of accessing the memory location of the SD card(Step 712) includes performing the erase operation from the memorylocation indicated by a start address to another memory locationindicated by an end address, wherein the start address is generatedaccording to an upper address included in the first CMD22 command and alower address included in the CMD32 command and the end address isgenerated according to an upper address included in the second CMD22command and a lower address included in the CMD33 command. The eraseoperation is initiated by the CMD38 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD44 command and a CMD45command (as shown in FIG. 4B), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 712) includes performing data transfer from thememory location indicated by the combined address, which is generatedaccording to the upper address included in the CMD22 command and thelower address included in the CMD45 command. The CMD44 command is usedto set direction of data, priority task ID and the total number ofblocks to be transferred.

It is noted that the order of the steps illustrated in FIG. 7 is onlyexemplary and the steps can be rearranged in any other suitable orderaccording to various applications. For example, in some otherembodiments, Step 704 may precede Step 702, or, Step 710 may precedeStep 708.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method 800 performed by a host for accessingan SD card in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 802: The host receives information of a capacity of the SD card.The information may be stored in a card specific data (CSD) register inthe SD card.

Step 804: The host determines if the capacity of the SD card exceeds apredetermined threshold, e.g. a capacity that can be presented by a32-bit address. The threshold may be 2 TB or less than 2 TB. If theresult is affirmative, the process goes to Step 806. If the result isnegative, the process goes to Step 820.

Step 806: The host determines an access operation to be performed on theSD card. The access operation may be selected from: a single readoperation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, amultiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 808: The host determines a memory location of the SD card subjectto the access operation, wherein the memory location can be indicated bya 64-bit address.

Step 810: The host separates the 64-bit address into a 32-bit upperaddress and a 32-bit lower address.

Step 812: The host transmits an address extension command including theupper address (in the address argument) to the SD card via a command pinof the SD card from an I/O interface of the host.

Step 814: The host transmits an access command including the loweraddress (in the address argument) and information indicating the accessoperation (in the index) to the SD card via the command pin of the SDcard.

Step 816: The host accesses the memory location of the SD card indicatedby a combined address, which is a combination of the upper address andthe lower address, via data pins of the SD card.

Step 820: The host determines an access operation to be performed on theSD card. The access operation may be selected from: a single readoperation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, amultiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 822: The host determines a memory location of the SD card subjectto the access operation, wherein the memory location is indicated by a32-bit address.

Step 824: The host transmits an access command including the 32-bitaddress (in the address argument) and information indicating the accessoperation (in the index) to the SD card via the command pin of the SDcard.

Step 826: The host accesses the memory location of the SD card indicatedby the 32-bit address via data pins of the SD card according to theaccess operation in Step 824.

In the current embodiment, the host H firstly determines the capacity ofthe SD card. If the capacity of the SD card exceeds a threshold, such as2 TB, the process goes to Step 806; otherwise, it goes to Step 820. Theoperation of Steps 806-816 are the same as those of Steps 702-712. Inother words, if the host H determines that the capacity of the SD cardexceeds 2 TB, the address extension command is required for accessingthe SD card; otherwise, only the access command(s) is sufficient foraccessing the SD card.

It is noted that the order of the steps illustrated in FIG. 8 is onlyexemplary and the steps can be rearranged in any other suitable orderaccording to various applications. For example, in some otherembodiments, Step 806 and Step 820 may be combined and may precede Step802, or, Step 814 may precede Step 812.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method 900 performed by a host for accessingan SD card in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 901: The host determines an access operation to be performed on theSD card. The access operation may be selected from: a single readoperation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, amultiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 902: The host receives information of a capacity of the SD card.The information may be stored in a CSD register in the SD card.

Step 904: The host determines if the capacity of the SD card exceeds apredetermined threshold. The threshold may be 2 TB or less than 2 TB. Ifthe result is affirmative, the process goes to Step 906. If the resultis negative, the process goes to Step 922.

Step 906: The host determines a memory location of the SD card subjectto the access operation determined in Step 901, wherein the memorylocation may be indicated by a 64-bit address or a 32-bit address. Ifthe memory location shall be indicated by a address greater than 32-bit,the process goes to Step 908. If the memory location can be indicated bya 32-bit address, the process goes to Step 922.

Step 908: The host separates the 64-bit address into a 32-bit upperaddress and a 32-bit lower address.

Step 910: The host transmits an address extension command including theupper address (in the address argument) to the SD card via a command pinof the SD card from an I/O interface of the host.

Step 912: The host transmits an access command including the loweraddress (in the address argument) and information indicating the accessoperation (in the index) to the SD card via the command pin of the SDcard.

Step 914: The host accesses the memory location of the SD card indicatedby a combined address, which is a combination of the upper address andthe lower address, via data pins of the SD card.

Step 922: The host determines a memory location of the SD card subjectto the access operation, wherein the memory location is indicated by a32-bit address.

Step 924: The host transmits an access command including the 32-bitaddress (in the address argument) and information indicating the accessoperation (in the index) to the SD card via the command pin of the SDcard.

Step 926: The host accesses the memory location of the SD card indicatedby the 32-bit address via data pins of the SD card according to theaccess operation in Step 824.

It is noted that in the method 900, even if the host recognized that theSD card supports a capacity greater than, e.g., 2 TB, the host can stillchoose a memory location that can be indicated by a 32-bit address toperform the access operation, wherein there is no need to transmit anaddress extension command.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method 1000 performed by an SD card or acontroller of the SD card for accessing the SD card in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention. The detailed steps are asfollows:

Step 1002: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) receives anaddress extension command including an upper address (in the addressargument) via a command pin of the SD card from an I/O interface of ahost.

Step 1004: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) receives an accesscommand including a lower address (in the address argument) andinformation indicating an access operation (in the index) via thecommand pin of the SD card. The access operation may be selected from: asingle read operation, a single write operation, a multiple readoperation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 1006: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) accesses a memorylocation of the SD card indicated by a combined address, which is acombination of the upper address and the lower address.

The upper address and the lower address may be both 32 bits. In someother embodiments, the upper address may be 6 bits and the lower addressis 32 bits. Otherwise, the upper address may be 32 bits and contain only6 bits meaningful bits. According to the present disclosure, the numberof bits (e.g. meaningful bits) of the upper address may be any numbernot greater than 32 and thus is not limited to the above embodiments.Furthermore, in some embodiments, the address extension command mayinclude the lower address and the access command may include the upperaddress.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD17 command, the step ofaccessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 1006) includesperforming the single read operation on the memory location indicated bythe combined address, which is generated according to the upper addressincluded in the CMD22 command and the lower address included in theCMD17 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD24 command, the step ofaccessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 1006) includesperforming the single write operation on the memory location indicatedby the combined address, which is generated according to the upperaddress included in the CMD22 command and the lower address included inthe CMD24 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and a CMD18command (as shown in FIG. 2), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 1006) includes performing the multiple readoperation from the memory location indicated by the combined address,which is generated according to the upper address included in the CMD22command and the lower address included in the CMD18 command. The CMD23command is used to set the data read length of the multiple readoperation.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and a CMD25command (as shown in FIG. 3), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 1006) includes performing the multiple writeoperation from the memory location indicated by the combined address,which is generated according to the upper address included in the CMD22command and the lower address included in the CMD25 command. The CMD23command is used to set the data write length of the multiple writeoperation.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and a CMD38 command,the step of accessing the memory location of the SD card (Step 1006)includes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the combined address in response to the CMD38 command. Thecombined address is generated according to the upper address included inthe CMD22 command and the lower address included in the CMD32 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a firstCMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and the access commandcomprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38 command (as shownin FIG. 4A), the step of accessing the memory location of the SD card(Step 1006) includes performing the erase operation from the memorylocation indicated by a start address to another memory locationindicated by an end address, wherein the start address may be generatedaccording to an upper address included in the first CMD22 command and alower address included in the CMD32 command and the end address may begenerated according to an upper address included in the second CMD22command and a lower address included in the CMD33 command. The eraseoperation is initiated by the CMD38 command.

In some embodiments, if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD44 command and a CMD45command (as shown in FIG. 4B), the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card (Step 1006) includes performing data transfer from thememory location indicated by the combined address, which is generatedaccording to the upper address included in the CMD22 command and thelower address included in the CMD45 command. The CMD44 command is usedto set direction of data, priority task ID and the total number ofblocks to be transferred.

It is noted that the order of the steps illustrated in FIG. 10 is onlyexemplary and the steps can be rearranged in any other suitable orderaccording to various applications. For example, in some otherembodiments, Step 1004 may precede Step 1002.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method 1100 performed by an SD card or acontroller of the SD card for accessing the SD card in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention. The detailed steps are asfollows:

Step 1102: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) transmitsinformation of a capacity of the SD card to a host. The information maybe stored in a CSD register in the SD card.

Step 1104: The SD card determines whether an address extension commandincluding an upper address (in the address argument) is received. If anaddress extension command is received, the process goes to Step 1106;otherwise, it goes to Step 1120.

Step 1106: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) receives an accesscommand including a lower address (in the address argument) andinformation indicating an access operation (in the index) via thecommand pin of the SD card. The access operation may be selected from: asingle read operation, a single write operation, a multiple readoperation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

Step 1108: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) accesses a memorylocation of the SD card indicated by a combined address, which is acombination of the upper address and the lower address. The accessoperation may be selected from: a single read operation, a single writeoperation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and anerase operation.

Step 1120: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) receives an accesscommand including a 32-bit address (in the address argument) andinformation indicating the access operation (in the index) via a commandpin of the SD card from an I/O interface of a host.

Step 1122: The SD card (or controller of the SD card) accesses a memorylocation of the SD card indicated by the 32-bit address according to theaccess operation in Step 1120.

It is noted that the order of the steps illustrated in FIG. 11 is onlyexemplary and the steps can be rearranged in any other suitable orderaccording to various applications. For example, Steps 1106 and 1120 forreceiving the access command may be combined and may precede Step 1104.

FIG. 12 is a state diagram showing the changes in the state of an SDcard when the SD card is being accessed in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

The state diagram starts with state 1200, a transfer state, wherein theSD card has not yet received any access command in a particular periodof time. That is, the SD card has not yet received any upper address orlower address.

In state 1200, if a CMD17, CMD18, CMD24 or CMD25 command is received, alower address carried by the CMD17, CMD18, CMD24 or CMD25 command isreceived by the SD card, and the SD card enters state 1204. The SD cardenters state 1250 subsequently.

In state 1200, if a CMD22 command is received, an upper address carriedby the CMD22 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1202.

In state 1200, if a CMD23 command is received, a data length carried bythe CMD23 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1222, wherein the SD card has not yet received any upper addressor lower address.

In state 1200, if a CMD32 command is received, a lower address carriedby the CMD32 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1212.

In state 1202, if a new CMD22 command is received, an upper addresscarried by the new CMD22 command replaces the upper address receivedwhen the SD card switches from state 1200 to state 1202, and the SD cardstays in state 1202.

In state 1202, if a CMD17, CMD18, CMD24 or CMD25 command is received, alower address carried by the CMD17, CMD18, CMD24 or CMD25 command isreceived by the SD card, and the SD card enters state 1204. The SD cardenters state 1250 subsequently.

In state 1202, if a command 32 is received, a lower address carried bythe CMD32 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1212.

In state 1222, if a new CMD23 command is received, a data length carriedby the new CMD23 command replaces the data length received when the SDcard switches from state 1200 to state 1222, and the SD card stays instate 1222.

In state 1222, if a CMD22 command is received, an upper address carriedby the CMD22 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1223.

In state 1222, if a CMD18 or CMD25 command is received, a lower addresscarried by the CMD18 or CMD25 command is received by the SD card, andthe SD card enters state 1224, wherein the SD card enters state 1250subsequently.

In state 1223, if a new CMD22 command is received, an upper addresscarried by the new CMD22 command replaces the upper address receivedwhen the SD card switches from state 1222 to state 1223, and the SD cardstays in state 1223.

In state 1223, if a new CMD23 command is received, a data length carriedby the new CMD23 command replaces the current data length, and the SDcard returns to state 1222.

In state 1223, if a CMD18 or CMD25 command is received, a lower addresscarried by the CMD18 or CMD25 command is received by the SD card, andthe SD card enters state 1224, wherein the SD card enters state 1250subsequently.

In state 1212, the SD card subsequently enters state 1214.

In state 1214, if a CMD33 command is received, a lower address carriedby the CMD33 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1216.

In state 1214, if a CMD22 command is received, an upper address carriedby the CMD22 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1215.

In state 1215, if a new CMD22 command is received, an upper addresscarried by the new CMD22 command replaces the upper address receivedwhen the SD card switches from state 1214 to state 1215, and the SD cardstays in state 1215.

In state 1215, if a CMD33 command is received, a lower address carriedby the CMD33 command is received by the SD card, and the SD card entersstate 1216.

In state 1216, if a CMD38 command is received, a corresponding operation(e.g., an erase operation) is instructed to the SD card, and the SD cardenters state 1218, wherein the SD card enters state 1250 subsequently.

In state 1250, the SD card is accessed according to the operationindicated by the index field of the access command (such as CMD17,CMD18, CMD24, CMD25, CMD32, and CMD33) at the location of the SD carddetermined by the lower address or a combination of the upper addressand the lower address. If the determined location cannot be accessed(e.g., within a read-only area) or does not exist in the SD card (e.g.,exceeds the capacity of the SD card), the access would be rejected andthe SD card returns to state 1200.

It is noted that, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 12, in state1202, state 1222, state 1223, state 1214, state 1215, and state 1216, ifan unexpected command (i.e., a command other than the commands describedin their respective descriptions above) is received, the SD card returnsto the transfer state 1200 (as indicated by the dotted arrows).

In view of the above, persons with ordinary skills in the art canunderstand that the flow charts depicted in FIGS. 7-11 are embodimentsof the subject disclosure and can derive other flow charts performed byan SD card or a host based on the state diagram of FIG. 12.

The present disclosure may further be described using the followingclauses:

1. A method for accessing a secure digital (SD) card, which comprises:

-   -   a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from a host;    -   at least one ground pin;    -   a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from the host;    -   a command pin for receiving a command from the host; and    -   four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data        from the SD card,    -   the method comprising:    -   receiving, via the command pin, an address extension command        including a first address from the host;    -   receiving, via the command pin, an access command including a        second address from the host; and    -   accessing, via the data pins, at least a memory location of the        SD card indicated by a third address, which is a combination of        the first address and the second address;    -   wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be        performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation,        a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple        write operation and an erase operation.

2. The method of clause 1, wherein the third address is generated byconnecting the first address and the second address in serial.

3. The method of clause 1, wherein the first address and the secondaddress are both 32 bits.

4. The method of clause 1, wherein the first address is 6 bits and thesecond address is 32 bits.

5. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD17command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the single read operation on the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD17 command.

6. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD24command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the single write operation on the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD24 command.

7. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD18 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing the multiple read operation from thememory location indicated by the third address, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD18 command.

8. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD25 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing the multiple write operation from thememory location indicated by the third address and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD25 command.

9. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and aCMD38 command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address in response to the CMD38 command, andwherein the third address is generated according to the CMD22 commandand the CMD32 command.

10. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a first CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and theaccess command comprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address to another memory location indicated by afourth address in response to the CMD38 command, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first CMD22 command and the CMD32command and the fourth address is generated according to the secondCMD22 command and the CMD33 command.

11. The method of clause 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD44command and a CMD45 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing data transfer from the memorylocation indicated by the third address and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD45 command.

12. The method of clause 1, further comprising transmitting informationof a capacity of the SD card to the host.

13. A controller of an SD card, configured to perform the method of anyone of clauses 1-12.

14. A method for accessing an SD card, which comprises:

-   -   a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from a host;    -   at least one ground pin;    -   a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from the host;    -   a command pin for receiving a command from the host; and    -   four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data        from the SD card,    -   the method comprising:    -   transmitting, via the command pin, an address extension command        including a first address to the SD card;    -   transmitting, via the command pin, an access command including a        second address to the SD card; and    -   accessing, via the data pins, at least a memory location of the        SD card indicated by a third address, which is a combination of        the first address and the second address;    -   wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be        performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation,        a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple        write operation and an erase operation.

15. The method of clause 14, wherein the third address is generated byconnecting the first address and the second address in serial.

16. The method of clause 14, further comprising receiving information ofa capacity of the SD card; wherein the step of transmitting the addressextension command is performed if the capacity of the SD card exceeds apredetermined threshold.

17. The method of clause 14, wherein the first address and the secondaddress are both 32 bits.

18. The method of clause 14, wherein the first address is 6 bits and thesecond address is 32 bits.

19. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD17command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the single read operation on the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD17 command.

20. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD24command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the single write operation on the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD24 command.

21. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD18 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing the multiple read operation from thememory location indicated by the third address, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD18 command.

22. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD25 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing the multiple write operation from thememory location indicated by the third address and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD25 command.

23. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and aCMD38 command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address in response to the CMD38 command, andwherein the third address is generated according to the CMD22 commandand the CMD32 command.

24. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a first CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and theaccess command comprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address to another memory location indicated by afourth address in response to the CMD38 command, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first CMD22 command and the CMD32command and the fourth address is generated according to the secondCMD22 command and the CMD33 command.

25. The method of clause 14, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD44command and a CMD45 command, the step of accessing the memory locationof the SD card includes performing data transfer from the memorylocation indicated by the third address and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD45 command.

26. The method of clause 14, further comprising:

-   -   determining to access a memory location which can be indicated        by a fourth address;    -   transmitting, via the command pin, another access command        including the fourth address to the SD card; and    -   accessing, via the data pins, the memory location of the SD card        indicated by the fourth address.

27. An SD card comprising:

-   -   a memory module including a plurality of memory locations;    -   an input/output (I/O) interface comprising:    -   a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from a host;    -   at least one ground pin;    -   a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from the host;    -   a command pin for receiving a command from the host; and    -   four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data        from the SD card; and    -   a controller configured to:    -   receive, via the command pin, an address extension command        including a first address from the I/O interface;    -   receive, via the command pin, an access command including a        second address from the I/O interface; and    -   access at least one of the plurality of memory locations        indicated by a third address which is a combination of the first        address and the second address,    -   wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be        performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation,        a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple        write operation and an erase operation.

28. The SD card of clause 27, wherein the third address is generated byconnecting the first address and the second address in serial.

29. The SD card of clause 27, wherein the upper address and the loweraddress are both 32 bits.

30. The SD card of clause 27, wherein the upper address is 6 bits andthe lower address is 32 bits.

31. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD17command, the controller performs a single read operation on the memorylocation indicated by the third address, and wherein the third addressis generated according to the first address included in the CMD22command and the second address included in the CMD17 command.

32. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD24command, the controller performs a single write operation on the memorylocation indicated by the third address, and wherein the third addressis generated according to the first address included in the CMD22command and the second address included in the CMD24 command.

33. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD18 command, the controller performs a multiple readoperation from the memory location indicated by the third address, andwherein the third address is generated according to the first addressincluded in the CMD22 command and the second address included in theCMD18 command.

34. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23command and a CMD25 command, the controller performs a multiple writeoperation from the memory location indicated by the third address andwherein the third address is generated according to the first addressincluded in the CMD22 command and the second address included in theCMD25 command.

35. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and aCMD38 command, the controller performs an erase operation from thememory location indicated by the third address in response to the CMD38command, and wherein the third address is generated according to theCMD22 command and the CMD32 command.

36. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a first CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and theaccess command comprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38command, the controller performs an erase operation from the memorylocation indicated by the third address to another memory locationindicated by a fourth address in response to the CMD38 command, andwherein the third address is generated according to the first CMD22command and the CMD32 command and the fourth address is generatedaccording to the second CMD22 command and the CMD33 command.

37. The SD card of clause 27, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD44command and a CMD45 command, the controller performs data transfer fromthe memory location indicated by the third address, and wherein thethird address is generated according to the first address included inthe CMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD45 command.

38. The SD card of clause 27, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to transmit information of a capacity of the SD card to thehost.

39. An electronic device capable of accessing an SD card comprising:

-   -   an I/O interface comprising:    -   a voltage supply contact for providing voltage supply to the SD        card;    -   at least one ground contact;    -   a clock contact for providing a clock signal to the SD card;    -   a command contact for providing a command to the SD card; and    -   four data contacts for writing data into the SD card or reading        data from the SD card; and    -   a processor configured to:    -   transmit, via the command contact, an address extension command        including a first address to the SD card;    -   transmit, via the command contact, an access command including a        second address to the SD card; and    -   access, via the data contacts, at least a memory location of the        SD card indicated by a third address which is a combination of        the first address and the second address;    -   wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be        performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation,        a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple        write operation and an erase operation.

40. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein the third address isgenerated by connecting the first address and the second address inserial.

41. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to determine a capacity of the SD card based on aninformation received from the I/O interface; and wherein the addressextension command is transmitted if the determined capacity of the SDcard exceeds a predetermined threshold.

42. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein the first address andthe second address are both 32 bits.

43. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein the first address is 6bits and the second address is 32 bits.

44. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD17 command, the processor performs a single read operation on thememory location indicated by the third address, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD17 command.

45. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD24 command, the processor performs a single write operation on thememory location indicated by the third address, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD24 command.

46. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD23 command and a CMD18 command, the processor performs a multipleread operation from the memory location indicated by the third address,and wherein the third address is generated according to the firstaddress included in the CMD22 command and the second address included inthe CMD18 command.

47. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD23 command and a CMD25 command, the processor performs a multiplewrite operation from the memory location indicated by the third addressand wherein the third address is generated according to the firstaddress included in the CMD22 command and the second address included inthe CMD25 command.

48. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD32 and a CMD38 command, the processor performs an erase operationfrom the memory location indicated by the third address in response tothe CMD38 command, and wherein the third address is generated accordingto the CMD22 command and the CMD32 command.

49. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a first CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, andthe access command comprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and aCMD38 command, the processor performs an erase operation from the memorylocation indicated by the third address to another memory locationindicated by a fourth address in response to the CMD38 command, andwherein the third address is generated according to the first CMD22command and the CMD32 command and the fourth address is generatedaccording to the second CMD22 command and the CMD33 command.

50. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD44 command and a CMD45 command, the processor performs data transferfrom the memory location indicated by the third address, and wherein thethird address is generated according to the first address included inthe CMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD45 command.

51. The electronic device of clause 39, wherein if the electronic devicedetermines to access a memory location which can be indicated by afourth address, the processor is further configured to:

-   -   transmitting, via the command pin, another access command        including the fourth address to the SD card; and    -   accessing, via the data pins, the memory location of the SD card        indicated by the fourth address.

It should be noted that the above disclosure is for illustrativepurposes and should not be deemed as limiting the present disclosure.Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, theabove disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes andbounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for an electronic device to access an SDcard, the electronic device comprising: an I/O interface comprising: avoltage supply contact for providing voltage supply to the SD card; atleast one ground contact; a clock contact for providing a clock signalto the SD card; a command contact for providing a command to the SDcard; and four data contacts for writing data into the SD card orreading data from the SD card; and the method comprising: transmitting,via the command contact, an address extension command including a firstaddress to the SD card; transmitting, via the command contact, an accesscommand including a second address to the SD card; and accessing atleast a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address,which is a combination of the first address and the second address;wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be performedon the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single writeoperation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and anerase operation; wherein if the address extension command comprises aCMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and aCMD18 command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the multiple read operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD18 command.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the third address is generated by connecting the firstaddress and the second address in serial.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the first address and the second address are both 32 bits. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the first address is 6 bits and thesecond address is 32 bits.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein if theaddress extension command comprises a CMD22 command and the accesscommand comprises a CMD17 command, the step of accessing the memorylocation of the SD card includes performing the single read operation onthe memory location indicated by the third address, and wherein thethird address is generated according to the first address included inthe CMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD17 command.6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the address extension commandcomprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises a CMD24command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the single write operation on the memory locationindicated by the third address, and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD24 command.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD23 command and a CMD25command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the multiple write operation from the memorylocation indicated by the third address and wherein the third address isgenerated according to the first address included in the CMD22 commandand the second address included in the CMD25 command.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein if the address extension command comprises a CMD22command and the access command comprises a CMD32 and a CMD38 command,the step of accessing the memory location of the SD card includesperforming the erase operation from the memory location indicated by thethird address in response to the CMD38 command, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the CMD22 command and the CMD32command.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a first CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, andthe access command comprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and aCMD38 command, the step of accessing the memory location of the SD cardincludes performing the erase operation from the memory locationindicated by the third address to another memory location indicated by afourth address in response to the CMD38 command, and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first CMD22 command and the CMD32command and the fourth address is generated according to the secondCMD22 command and the CMD33 command.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinif the address extension command comprises a CMD22 command and theaccess command comprises a CMD44 command and a CMD45 command, the stepof accessing the memory location of the SD card includes performing datatransfer from the memory location indicated by the third address andwherein the third address is generated according to the first addressincluded in the CMD22 command and the second address included in theCMD45 command.
 11. A method for an electronic device to access an SDcard, the electronic device comprising: an I/O interface comprising: avoltage supply contact for providing voltage supply to the SD card; atleast one ground contact; a clock contact for providing a clock signalto the SD card; a command contact for providing a command to the SDcard; and four data contacts for writing data into the SD card orreading data from the SD card; and the method comprising: transmitting,via the command contact, an address extension command including a firstaddress to the SD card; transmitting, via the command contact, an accesscommand including a second address to the SD card; and accessing atleast a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address,which is a combination of the first address and the second address;wherein the access command indicates an access operation to be performedon the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single writeoperation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and anerase operation; wherein if the address extension command comprises afirst CMD22 command and a second CMD22 command, and the access commandcomprises a CMD32 command, a CMD33 command and a CMD38 command, the stepof accessing the memory location of the SD card includes performing theerase operation from the memory location indicated by the third addressto another memory location indicated by a fourth address in response tothe CMD38 command, and wherein the third address is generated accordingto the first CMD22 command and the CMD32 command and the fourth addressis generated according to the second CMD22 command and the CMD33command.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein if the address extensioncommand comprises a CMD22 command and the access command comprises aCMD44 command and a CMD45 command, the step of accessing the memorylocation of the SD card includes performing data transfer from thememory location indicated by the third address and wherein the thirdaddress is generated according to the first address included in theCMD22 command and the second address included in the CMD45 command. 13.The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving information of acapacity of the SD card.
 14. An electronic device, comprising: an I/Ointerface comprising: a voltage supply contact for providing voltagesupply to the SD card; at least one ground contact; a clock contact forproviding a clock signal to the SD card; a command contact for providinga command to the SD card; and four data contacts for writing data intothe SD card or reading data from the SD card; and a processor configuredto perform the method of any one of claims 1-13.